Portland Trail Blazers
The
Portland Trail Blazers are a
National Basketball Association team based in
Portland, Oregon.
- Founded: 1970\n:Home Arena: Rose Garden Arena\n:Uniform colors: Red and black\n:Logo design: Five parallel red lines slant right and upward from the bottom and curve left to meet five parallel white lines that curve downward and leftward from the top. It is supposed to represent trails being blazed.\n:NBA Championships: 1977\n:Owner: Paul Allen
Early Franchise history
\n
\nOn February 6, 1970, the NBA board of governors granted the Blazers franchise, after the Blazers paid $3.7 million to join the league. In that year, the Buffalo Braves and the Cleveland Cavaliers also joined the league. The team was based around Geoff Petrie, a first round draft choice, and the 6'10" (2.08 m) tall LeRoy Ellis, who they picked up in the expansion draft. Their first season the Blazers finished with a 29-53 record, which although generally poor was the best out of the three new teams to the NBA. The next year, the Blazers won only 18 games, but rookie Sidney Wicks was named Rookie of the Year of the NBA. The Blazers did not beat their first season's record until they drafted Bill Walton from UCLA.\nRecent franchise history
\n
\nAfter nine years as president and general manager, Bob Whitsitt announced his departure from the Trail Blazers on May 7, 2003, stating that he was retiring to focus his attention on the Seattle Seahawks NFL team. However, he had been the subject of continuous criticism from the team's fans and both the local and national press for team performance on the court, as well as player legal troubles off the court.\nThe Blazers announced Steve Patterson as team president June 18, 2003 and announced\nthat John Nash would become general manager on July 15.
Players of note
\nBasketball Hall of Famers
\n*Drazen Petrovic\n*Bill Walton\n*Lenny Wilkens
Not to be forgotten
\n*Jerome Kersey\n*Fernando Martin\n*Scottie Pippen\n*Terry Porter\n*Ramon Ramos\n*Cliff Robinson\n*Arvydas Sabonis\n*Rasheed Wallace\n*Bonzi Wells\n*Buck Williams
Retired numbers
\n*1 Larry Weinberg (founding owner)\n*13 David Twardzik\n*15 Larry Steele\n*20 Maurice Lucas\n*22 Clyde Drexler\n*32 Bill Walton\n*36 Lloyd Neal\n*45 Geoff Petrie\n*77 Dr. Jack Ramsay (coach; won the team's first and only title in 1977)
Current stars
\n*Shareef Abdur-Rahim\n*Derek Anderson\n*Dale Davis\n*Darius Miles\n*Zach Randolph\n*Theo Ratliff\n*Damon Stoudamire
Coaches and others
\n*Maurice Cheeks, Head Coach\n*Jim Lynam, Assistant Coach\n*Bill Schonely, Announcer
Basketball Hall of Famers
\n*Dr. Jack Ramsay\n*Lenny Wilkens
External links
\n* Portland Trail Blazers official web site\n* Official Portland Trail Blazers Summer Pro League practice web site
Category:Basketball teams\nCategory:Portland, Oregon
